The Good News of the New Testament
- the new way of the Spirit vs the old way of the written Instructions.
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The apostle Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans that those who have believed in the Lord Jesus the Messiah have three distinct characteristics in the new covenant with God.
Before I go on however, I'd like to point out that the epistles referenced in this article were written by Paul in typical Jewish midrashic style. Midrash is a Jewish approach to exegesis, which mainly focuses on deep meanings and comparative investigation of Biblical texts. (A brief commentary on interpretation of Old Testament scripture in the early NT times can be found at the end of this article)*
Here are three characteristics:
(I) Believers in the Messiah are Freed from Condemnation of the Law.
Rom. 7:6 GNTThis verse tells us that the written Instructions once held us captives, that they constitute an old way of serving God and that they are replaced by a new way, simply described as the way of the Spirit.
"Now, however, we are free from the Law
because we died to that which once held us prisoners.
No longer do we serve in the OLD WAY of the written Law (or Instructions)
but in the NEW WAY of the Spirit."
We must note, however, that this assertion by no means imply that Believers are to abandon or to disregard the teachings of the Law of Moses. It does not, for example, gives us license to kill, to steal or to commit adultery. Being free from the Law certainly does not mean being free to bear false witness or to covet our neighbours' possessions. Paul wrote in Romans 3:31, "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law." (NASB)
Likewise, whist we are free from the condemnation of the Law, we are nonetheless reminded to use the Law, along with the Writings and the Prophets (all Scriptures), to instruct, to reprove, to correct and to train ourselves in righteousness, so that we are properly equipped to perform good works. Paul wrote to Timothy in his 2nd epistle,
2 Tim 3:15,17 GNTYes, we Believers serve our Heavenly Father in the new way of His Spirit working within us, no longer by the old way of the written Instructions outside of us. And, no, we do not transgress the Instructions. Instead we uphold it.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful[a] for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, 17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.
(II) Believers in the Messiah are Enabled by the Power of God.
This assertion is further explained in Paul's 2nd epistle to the Corinthians, in chapter 3 for example, which tells us that believers in the Lord Jesus are enabled by God Himself to serve the new covenant, doing the work of God. It tells us that this new covenant does not consist of a written Law (Instructions) but instead consists of the Spirit of God
2 Cor 3:5b,6 GNTPaul goes on to explain how this comes about.
"The capacity we have comes from God; 6 it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life."
He points out that the written Instructions were carved in stone (2 Cor 3:7). They came with the powerful manifestations of God's glory, a glory so bright, shining from Moses' face, that the Israelites could not look at it. In alluding to the account of Moses in Exodus chapter 34, Paul asserts that this glory was to subsequently bring death and condemnation to the people of Israel (2 Cor 3: 7b, 8), and that this glory was transient (2 Cor 3:11).
In contrast to the fearsome but transient glory that shone on Moses' face, the Spirit of God which is poured out on His people in the new covenant (Acts 2:33) gives life (2 Cor 3:6b). It comes with a far greater glory (2 Cor 3:8). It brings salvation instead of condemnation (2 Cor 3:9). And it lasts forever (2 Cor 3:11)
2 Cor 3: 7-11 GNTAnd finally,
"7 The Law was carved in letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given. Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such glory, 8 how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit! 9 The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation! 10 We may say that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so bright in the past is gone. 11 For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts forever!"
(III) Believers in the Messiah are Full of the Glory of the LORD (YHWH).
The Apostle calls on the believers at Corinth to behave as a people who show the glory of God with "uncovered faces", unlike Moses who had to cover his face with a veil to conceal the glory of God (Ex 34:34, 2 Cor 3:13, 18).
2 Cor 3:18 GNTThis glory that Believers reflect is the same glory as that which shone from Moses' face. It comes from the LORD (YHWH), who is Spirit (see John 4:24). The Spirit of God in us transforms us in a ever increasing degree of glory, i.e. "from glory to glory".
"All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory."
Brothers and Sisters, let us reflect the Glory of YHWH our God by His Spirit in us.
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Midrash - interpretation of Jewish Scriptures in NT times:
http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/11/01/interpreting-the-jewish-scriptures-in-pauls-time-nt-29/
